me to shit I wish I could afford just 1 680 but not going to happen not with the way prices are here for them EVGA GeForce GTX680 FTW 4GB $1148.... ummm I can build an entire PC for that ridiculous amount of money

Retailers/eTailer >><< Average joe buyer

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If you think about it though.... in terms of hobbies 3 or 4 video cards from $1500 to $2000 is not all that much compared to other hobbies. When I was into souping up cars.... I could pay that for 1 part let a lone 4.
The advantage to something like that is though.... when your souping up cars.... you usually buy the part that you need and your done with that part. You don't have to upgrade a year later.
But still overall in terms of hobbies.... computers are still more or less cheaper than other hobbies.

If a single 680 or a single HD7850 (Or what ever) is all you can afford.... be happy with it.

If you think about it though.... in terms of hobbies 3 or 4 video cards from $1500 to $2000 is not all that much compared to other hobbies. When I was into souping up cars.... I could pay that for 1 part let a lone 4.
The advantage to something like that is though.... when your souping up cars.... you usually buy the part that you need and your done with that part. You don't have to upgrade a year later.
But still overall in terms of hobbies.... computers are still more or less cheaper than other hobbies.

If a single 680 or a single HD7850 (Or what ever) is all you can afford.... be happy with it.

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you're right dude, I'm a cyclist and after buying my first entry level racer I will never buy another bike from Sears or Wal-mart. And the next bike I want to buy with top of the line Shimano Dura-Ace hardware and a hand made Italian frame would run me $6,000 or $7,000!!! And if I were to put top of the line Campagnolo Record (carbon fiber parts) you can make that a $10,000 bicycle!!!

you're right dude, I'm a cyclist and after buying my first entry level racer I will never buy another bike from Sears or Wal-mart. And the next bike I want to buy with top of the line Shimano Dura-Ace hardware and a hand made Italian frame would run me $6,000 or $7,000!!! And if I were to put top of the line Campagnolo Record (carbon fiber parts) you can make that a $10,000 bicycle!!!

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That's exactly what I mean.... so when you take that into account and then look at my 3 video card fully water cooled computer.... compare the two prices.... $5500 to $6000 for a computer doesn't look so bad next to a $7000 to $10000 dollar bike

I know it still is a lot of money... I guess my point is.... other hobbies are way more expensive.

So you couldn't let me beat you in the number of cards huh?? LOL Nice rig man what a beast! Now lets see some benchmarks

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Thanks man

I was lucky enough that two of my previous cards qualified for the EVGA step up program, and I just traded those cards, but I have to admit I always wanted to try a quad SLI setup, I'm happy I have the chance and consider my self really lucky for it

Unfortunately, one of my new cards was DOA, and is currently being sent back to EVGA, so I haven't had the chance to benchmark my system yet

Gotta give it to EVGA though, their RMA process was smooth and even over the weekend they replied to my support questions! One of the best tech supports I've ever had the opportunity of dealing with! Kudos to them

As for having too much time in my hands, well I wish that was the case, I work 9-10 hrs a day, and have a 3 year old angel that takes all of my time when I come back from work, and doesn't let me go until he goes to bed... I haven't finished a single game in ages

The main reason I had not posted in many months is that my marriage of 7 years is ending, and I dedicate every single minute I have available to my son now that he needs me the most...

Building computers in my office is the only hobby I can practice late on these sleepless nights, so yeah, I really don't think I have too much time on my hands...

I was lucky enough that two of my previous cards qualified for the EVGA step up program, and I just traded those cards, but I have to admit I always wanted to try a quad SLI setup, I'm happy I have the chance and consider my self really lucky for it

Unfortunately, one of my new cards was DOA, and is currently being sent back to EVGA, so I haven't had the chance to benchmark my system yet

Gotta give it to EVGA though, their RMA process was smooth and even over the weekend they replied to my support questions! One of the best tech supports I've ever had the opportunity of dealing with! Kudos to them

As for having too much time in my hands, well I wish that was the case, I work 9-10 hrs a day, and have a 3 year old angel that takes all of my time when I come back from work, and doesn't let me go until he goes to bed... I haven't finished a single game in ages

The main reason I had not posted in many months is that my marriage of 7 years is ending, and I dedicate every single minute I have available to my son now that he needs me the most...

Building computers in my office is the only hobby I can practice late on these sleepless nights, so yeah, I really don't think I have too much time in my hands...

That's exactly what I mean.... so when you take that into account and then look at my 3 video card fully water cooled computer.... compare the two prices.... $5500 to $6000 for a computer doesn't look so bad next to a $7000 to $10000 dollar bike

I know it still is a lot of money... I guess my point is.... other hobbies are way more expensive.

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It sounds like neither of you have ever been to New Zealand 15th's PC setup would whack me out to about $10k here easily retailers here are a bunch of gouging bastards and they try to claim it's the shipping costs which we all know here is bullshit we really aren't that much further from Taiwan/China than the US

I was lucky enough that two of my previous cards qualified for the EVGA step up program, and I just traded those cards, but I have to admit I always wanted to try a quad SLI setup, I'm happy I have the chance and consider my self really lucky for it

Unfortunately, one of my new cards was DOA, and is currently being sent back to EVGA, so I haven't had the chance to benchmark my system yet

Gotta give it to EVGA though, their RMA process was smooth and even over the weekend they replied to my support questions! One of the best tech supports I've ever had the opportunity of dealing with! Kudos to them

As for having too much time in my hands, well I wish that was the case, I work 9-10 hrs a day, and have a 3 year old angel that takes all of my time when I come back from work, and doesn't let me go until he goes to bed... I haven't finished a single game in ages

The main reason I had not posted in many months is that my marriage of 7 years is ending, and I dedicate every single minute I have available to my son now that he needs me the most...

Building computers in my office is the only hobby I can practice late on these sleepless nights, so yeah, I really don't think I have too much time on my hands...

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My little man was exactly the same bleeding little clingon but I love him lots so I didn't mind

I was lucky enough that two of my previous cards qualified for the EVGA step up program, and I just traded those cards, but I have to admit I always wanted to try a quad SLI setup, I'm happy I have the chance and consider my self really lucky for it

Unfortunately, one of my new cards was DOA, and is currently being sent back to EVGA, so I haven't had the chance to benchmark my system yet

Gotta give it to EVGA though, their RMA process was smooth and even over the weekend they replied to my support questions! One of the best tech supports I've ever had the opportunity of dealing with! Kudos to them

As for having too much time in my hands, well I wish that was the case, I work 9-10 hrs a day, and have a 3 year old angel that takes all of my time when I come back from work, and doesn't let me go until he goes to bed... I haven't finished a single game in ages

The main reason I had not posted in many months is that my marriage of 7 years is ending, and I dedicate every single minute I have available to my son now that he needs me the most...

Building computers in my office is the only hobby I can practice late on these sleepless nights, so yeah, I really don't think I have too much time on my hands...

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Man, i'm sorry to hear that about awful personal things going on. I'm going on 9 years married with a little girl myself, and I'd hate to have to go through it. Keep up the fine work doing what you're doing: love him and raise him right! It makes me sad to see the many terrible parents these days who just don't care about their children.

Small update to operation cheapskate...the VRM's on the ASRock Z77 Pro4-M board were getting so hot under a LinX load at any speed over 3.8 GHz that the board would throttle down to prevent damage. I didn't realize this until I reached in there and damn near got burnt touching the top heatsink! So I grabbed a cheap open box Z68 Extreme3 and all is well, with a lesson learned on going too cheap.